Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards

hslib,

I'm a D also. When I first came on Board, I followed the program to the letter, with this one exception: I had a very long addiction to coffee and refused to give it up. I was having terrible cramps DAILY, all the while drinking my beloved cuppa. When Heather found out, she wrote me a post that I'll never forget; I can't find it in here, or I'd copy it for you, but it was headed, "Oh Wow, This is a HUGE Problem!" With that one post she got me to quit cold turkey. And you know what? The very next morning, I was completely cramp-free for the first time in AGES. She said I'd be surprised at how fast I'd get better, and she was totally right.

You need to give up that coffee. You'll be amazed too at how fast you feel better.

Also, check the ingredients on those Benefiber tablets. They are not IBS-safe. The powder is IBS-safe, but beware. It's guar gum; can you tolerate it? I was on the powder, but having morning cramps -- just like in my old coffee days -- and as soon as I stopped the Benefiber, the cramps went away.

How soon is your vacation? Do you have time to try a different SFS? Have you tried Heather's Acacia? Like the Benefiber powder, it doesn't have a taste and doesn't thicken (like Citrucel powder does). Really, you have to try them to see which your body will tolerate. I tried them all! (To be honest, I had a problem with all of them, including the Acacia, although I was taking too much of the Acacia, so it's not a fair test.)

I know nothing about FiberSmart, unfortunately, so I can't comment. However, you need to find one that works for you without upsetting your system.

An ESSENTIAL emergency kit to keep in your purse includes: your meds (antispasmodic especially, but also Lomotil or Imodium) AND a supply of Equalactin. Many a time I've had to pull out a tablet and chew it up, and every time it's calmed my tummy down almost immediately.

I guess I'm lucky, because wheat does not bother me at all. It's the only kind of bread I eat, and the only kind of flour I use. I make a lot of Shanna's incredible Banana Bread, and use whole wheat flour in it; it's what we have every morning for breakfast, toasted, with Soy Butter on it.

I'm sorry to disappoint you about that coffee, but you really will be surprised at how quickly those cramps will go away when you give it up. There IS an alternative, and it's my beloved SoyFee: Soyfee Web Site I drink a half pot every morning. It's FABULOUS and tastes EXACTLY like real coffee. You can drink as much as you want because it's very healthy and AIDS IN DIGESTION. Before that vacation, be sure to stock up! (Warning: shipping of the Soyfee takes forever from NYC. I have to wait over 2 weeks to get it -- so order EARLY!)

Get better --

Bev

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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy

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